Open Season: Some lead sinkers, jigs now prohibited

Sunday

Dec 25, 2011 at 12:01 AM

MassWildlife (DFW) reminds all freshwater anglers that as of January 1, 2012, the use of any lead sinkers and lead jigs weighing less than one ounce is now prohibited in all state inland waters (freshwater).

MARC FOLCO

MassWildlife (DFW) reminds all freshwater anglers that as of January 1, 2012, the use of any lead sinkers and lead jigs weighing less than one ounce is now prohibited in all state inland waters (freshwater).

In terms of this regulation, "lead sinker" or "lead weight" is defined as any sinker or weight made from lead that weighs less than one ounce. A "lead jig" is defined as any lead-weighted hook weighing less than one ounce. Prohibited tackle includes lead sinkers and jigs (weighing less than an ounce) painted, coated with some other substance or with attached "skirts." Other types of sinkers, fishing lures, and/or fishing tackle including, artificial lures, hooks, weighted flies, lead-core, buzz-baits, spinner baits, or other weighted fishing lines may still be used for freshwater fishing. Ecologically safe alternatives to lead sinkers and lead jigs (such as steel and tin) are readily available from many sources and come in a wide variety of styles, shapes, weights, and sizes to meet every type of fishing need.

In 2009, the Mass. Fisheries and Wildlife Board unanimously voted to prohibit the use of lead sinkers and jigs weighing less than an ounce with the provision that the regulation go into effect January 1, 2012. This delay gave manufacturers and anglers time to adjust to these changes. "The regulation was implemented primarily to protect the state's small population of common loon," said Dr. Mark Tisa, assistant director of fisheries. Common Loons are a state-listed Species of Special Concern.

Historically, the common loon nested in Massachusetts, but was extirpated in the late 19th century. In 1975, a pair of loons was discovered nesting in Quabbin Reservoir. The population has increased, and today approximately 32 territorial pairs can be found on 14 lakes, ponds, and reservoirs in the state, the southern limit of the loon's breeding range. Large piscivorous (fish-eating) birds that rely on sight to capture their prey, loons require relatively large nesting territories and water of high clarity, hence their population growth here is limited by the availability of this habitat.

Ingestion of lead fishing gear is the single largest cause of mortality for adult loons in fresh water in New England. Veterinarians at Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine examined 483 dead adult loons and determined that approximately 44 percent of these birds died as the result of lead poisoning. Their research documented that ingestion of small lead sinkers and jigs accounted for approximately 79 percent of the lead objects recovered from loons that died from lead poisoning in fresh water. A single lead sinker or split shot can poison a loon.

A bird with lead poisoning exhibits physical and behavioral changes, including loss of balance, gasping, tremors, and impaired ability to fly. The weakened bird is more vulnerable to predators and may have trouble feeding, mating, nesting, and caring for its young. A loon becomes emaciated and often dies within two to three weeks after ingesting the lead.

Loons ingest lead sinkers and lead jigs in two ways. One is when loons take minnows hooked as bait on a fishing line. The loon breaks off the line and then swallows the hook, line, swivel, and sinker or jig. A second ingestion method apparently occurs when loons ingest small pebbles from lake bottoms to help grind food in their gizzards. It appears they may inadvertently swallow lead sinkers and jigs while engaged in this activity, or are perhaps actively choosing them for some other reason (possibly because of their unique size, shape, or shine).

"Through this new conservation regulation it is possible to reduce the chance of lead poisoning of loons, a goal all sportsmen should support," said Dr. Tisa. "Most anglers who have experienced the presence of loons would agree that sightings of these magnificent birds and the enjoyment of their iconic, eerie calls add to the quality of any fishing experience."

Sporting and fishing clubs, bait and tackle stores, watershed associations, marinas, and other conservation organizations can help get the message about the new regulation in several ways: making announcements at meetings, publishing the information in newsletters or email blasts, or posting a flyer announcing the lead sinker ban available from the DFW website at: www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreation/fishing/pdf/loons_lead_sinker_flyer.pdf.

Hunting is changing and recent research by several groups is helping to reveal who today's hunters are, and what they are hunting. A recent National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) report indicates 21.8 million Americans went hunting at least once in the past five years. That's up from an estimated 14 million hunters just a few years prior. Most active hunters come from small towns and rural areas. But when they go, what do they hunt?

A Portrait of Hunters and Hunting License Trends, the National Report by the NSSF reveals that 83 percent of the survey responders indicated deer as their top priority, with upland game birds in second place at 29 percent. Many deer hunters only focus on deer, but hunters that hunt other species, like wild turkeys or waterfowl, also hunt deer.

Another survey compiled by the research firm Southwick and Associates reveals that nearly 80 percent of hunters began hunting as youths. The great news is that in many states, young hunter numbers are growing. One program, Families Afield, can be credited with helping place more hunters afield. This program has worked to reduce or eliminate age barriers, develop apprentice programs, and create try-before-you-buy programs to help young first-time hunters give hunting a try.

If you think your state has hunting laws that prevent hunters from going hunting, especially young, first-time hunters, maybe you can help make a change. There are four key principles of a Families Afield bill. Parents know best when their sons and daughters are ready to begin hunting. Permitting people to learn and experience hunting first hand from a mentor before taking hunter education results in better recruitment numbers and ultimately more hunter education graduates. Access to big-game hunting is critical to improving hunting numbers. Big game hunting has the highest participation, therefore the largest number of potential mentors.

Families Afield program was initiated in 2004 by the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, the NSSF, and the National Wild Turkey Federation to bring a new generation of sportsmen to the field. Along with the National Rifle Association and the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, the Families Afield coalition has worked to pass measures in 32 states with nearly 600,000 apprentice or mentored hunting licenses sold since the program's inception. Hunting, however, still has competition.

Another recent report by Southwick and Associates and Responsive Management (Understanding Activities That Compete with Hunting and Target Shooting, Oct. 2011) found that fishing, camping and hiking activities used time that hunters would have invested in going hunting. Those same activities also often competed with time that target shooters would have spent at the shooting range. Of course more than a dozen other activities also competed with hunting and shooting for valued "spare" time. This report also discovered that increased age and a lack of time were the top reasons that hunters quit hunting, or did not go as often.

And a Merry Christmas to all my readers.

Marc Folco is the outdoor writer for The Standard-Times. Contact him at openseason1988@aol.com

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